Category: Corporate Life

With Great Power Comes Greater Damning Responsibility!

Remember the famous line from Spider Man? If not Spider Man, I’m sure you must have heard this someplace else. Notice the word “Damning”? Because the weight of responsibility is that grave!

And it’s simple. Really! Let’s think about the why?

Power is not always tied to money – it can be completely unrelated. Money is something you earn, but power is something you are entrusted with. It doesn’t come from wealth; it’s bestowed by the people around you. Let’s understand this with a few examples:

  1. A politician: They hold power because you put your trust in them and elevate them to that position. Because you believe that this person can execute things for you. And not every politician is rich, at least you don’t vote for them because they’re rich.
  2. CEO / Billionaire: Not every CEO or billionaire have powers (I mean they’re tons who don’t hold any power or influence). Unless they don’t work for it or merely, they just don’t want it.
  3. A teacher or a parent: Both of these and many other positions that people hold have nothing to do with money. Their power works only and only if you trust them. If a kid doesn’t like their parents, then probably they won’t join them at the dinner table until the WIFI is turned off. That’s Power!

The point I’m making here is that money is something that you can proclaim. It could be earned or inherited. But Not Power – that can’t be inherited in the same way. Your parents may be rich and influential but doesn’t mean you inherit the influence and power with their money. I mean, take the POPE’s children for example, if there are any, won’t have his power! Would they?

I got this thought for the first time, when Elon Musk tweeted that he is taking Tesla private on Twitter now X. What did his tweet do? It inflated the price by 10% and then declined when investors realize that he didn’t really have plan to materialize it. He even had to step down as the CEO by the orders of SEC.

Since then, he was almost always able to get through the heads of people, be it DOGE Coin, or Tesla share prices, or his recent appointment in the Trump Administration. Not because he’s the CEO, but because he realized his influence over people.

Anyway, why does Musk have accountability? Because shareholders entrusted him with the power of being Chairman and CEO — and that comes with accountability. What he should have done? Discuss with his board, put out a press release, inform SEC, and use proper channels to avoid the volatility in the market. That one tweet halted the trading of Tesla’s stock for an hour. There are other incidents, when he tweeted that Tesla’s stock prices are too high, or he is taking Twitter private, or buy crypto. All his tweets make the stock market go crazy!

When someone puts you in position of power, you owe it to the people who got you there. Why? Because it is not your show only! You’re there for a reason. Your words influence people. I’m not against freedom of speech (that’s why I’m writing this article), but freedom of speech should not be exercised if it brings chaos in people’s lives.

And time and again people have misused their powers. Let’s look at a few instances:

  • Indira Gandhi: When she assumed “Indira is India”, she invoked the largest period of emergency in the history of Indian democracy. Arresting more than 1.1 million civilians, political opponents, and press workers and anyone who protested her. It took India more than 10 years to recover from the famine and debts.
  • Donald Trump: When in January 2020, he couldn’t accept his defeat and went on spreading hatred and inciting the attacks on the US Capitol.
  • Narendra Modi: Invoking demonetization overnight. Cancelled bills of 500 and 1000 in just one night. Although the idea was a masterstroke to control corruption, increase tax revenues, reduce terrorist activities funded by counterfeit currencies, and increase digitization. But it caused more pain than relief for everyday citizens. The plan was such a disaster that banks couldn’t keep up. Some people and businesses died because they couldn’t keep up. The expectation was big revelations and raids on black money, but I don’t think anyone of us remember a single name or amount that was recovered during demonetization.
  • L&T and Infosys Chiefs: When they spoke their minds of working 70-90 hours a week. Not forgetting to mention that a country like India where people are already working 60 hours a week because there’s no 40 hours work week policy or overtime payments, these statements just increase the anxiety in people that they’ll die working.
  • Manmohan Singh: A prime minister who was one of the best finance ministers in the world, remained silent when the country was driving down the paths of corruption, increasing bureaucracy, and bad governance.
  • Joe Biden: When Joe Biden just woke up one day and ended up Afghan war. Don’t get me wrong, the war should have ended years ago, and it was a great move, but you can’t just do it in a day. It requires planning and risk anticipation as the lives of American soldiers in Afghanistan and the lives of Afghanistan citizens were at stake.
  • Biden Administration: When Biden administration thought that they’re high and mighty to intensify Ukraine and Russia feud, just to make it worse. This made Ukraine indebted to US for ages with increase in deaths of civilians. And of course, not intervening to resolve Israel-Hamas war.
  • Great Britain: When they thought about colonizing the world, without thinking about the impact on people and nations that were thrown back centuries. Not forgetting to mention practices of slavery, sex trafficking, racism, and so much more.

The list is already so long, and this can on and on without coming to our conclusion.

When you are in the position of power, it is your job to work for the people. I understand freedom of speech is important, but they are justified only if they don’t impact the innocent people around you. You are accountable for your actions. You were put in that place to do better things. And NO! You’ll not be pardoned just because it was your only mistake or first mistake. Because – With Great Power Comes Greater Damning Responsibilities!

Even in the corporate world, when a manager doesn’t mentor their team well, just because they don’t like them, or they didn’t learn the skill of people management. When you are in the position of power, it isn’t about you, it’s about the people. YOUR PEOPLE! Russia shouldn’t have inflicted war on Ukraine just because Putin was pissed by America’s proposal to Ukraine to join NATO.

Your ego and your personal ideas don’t matter. The reason people put you in that place was because they didn’t want to think about one more thing in their lives but that doesn’t give you or anyone the right to mess with their lives because you personally don’t align with an idea or situation. IT IS NOT YOUR BEDROOM!

Someone, somewhere, you, and I, we all are in position of power in our worlds, but it is our job to perform our duties and think about the greater good. Not about ourselves!

It is difficult to earn the trust, but it takes less than a minute to break it. Governments fall within days because they didn’t win the trust vote. That’s why it is called a TRUST VOTE!

Think before you do and think twice if your decision will impact others. Doing the right thing is difficult — that’s exactly why it’s important to remember why you were put in that position in the first place.

And if you are too shy or scared to act, then just be Shameless! It’s not a bad word!

Fearlessly,

The Shameless Indian

Posted on by Rakshit Goyal 0

The Truth About Weakness: Are We Too Judgmental?

Do we hate people who are weak? Or those who don’t perform well?

I think we do.

We don’t like seeing someone lazy or being around someone who talks or acts like a “loser.” Someone who isn’t able to achieve great things or meet the high benchmarks of life.
But how do we decide who is weak or an underperformer? How do we decide whether they deserve our attention or not?
Or maybe… we never even asked what that person wants from life.

We all love the idea of making someone a hero, calling someone a hero—or being a hero ourselves. But what is a hero?
A badass who kicks everyone’s ass and knocks out each task or challenge in front of them?
Why do we ignore the possibility that the person who didn’t achieve a goal isn’t weak or incapable—maybe the result just didn’t turn out the way they expected?

And who said that results will always match your efforts?
Can you control the outcomes?

If you truly believe that every action leads to the expected result, then maybe what Lord Krishna said in the Bhagavad Gita has been misinterpreted all along:
“Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana”
(Do your duty, without worrying about the outcome.)

So how should we interpret this? Does it mean we should only focus on actions and ignore the results?
Or does it mean we shouldn’t expect anything at all?

In either case, does it say that results are guaranteed?
No!
So if they’re not guaranteed, then why do anything at all?

The answer: because we act—by choice, by pressure, by habit, or by hope.
There’s always a goal in mind. But even if you do everything “right,” are you guaranteed the results you desire?

Think about it again: Is anyone truly weak?

Everyone has their own set of actions, goals, and definitions of success. Everyone has a benchmark—often very different from society’s expectations.
And this is true in the corporate world as well.

Do all your projects yield perfect results? No.
But do you stop working on them?
You don’t.

So, what do we actually do to support others?
Do we help those who are struggling?
Do we ask what they need?
Do we listen?
No—we often push them harder.
We increase the pressure. We assume that since they couldn’t do it when life was easier, maybe they’ll do better when we make life miserable.

In the corporate world, we call this pressure with different terms – PiP (Performance Improvement Plan), PIVOT (Performance Improvement Term), or LITE (Lower Impact Than Expected).
Instead of helping them succeed, we crush them under expectations.

And if you think this happens only in corporate environments, think again.
Have you ever pressured someone who failed an exam after three attempts?
Blamed someone who didn’t land their dream job or college?
Made someone feel miserable for not getting married “on time”?

Sadly, we all have—sometimes without even realizing it.

Maybe pressure does work sometimes. People often perform better under tight deadlines or extreme expectations.
But does that mean they can’t thrive in a supportive environment?

Let’s go back to the corporate setup again.
A person joins a company, does the work assigned, meets expectations—but doesn’t go beyond them.
They’re told they need to “raise the bar” or “go above and beyond.”
But what does that mean?

If someone was hired to do X, and they’re doing X—how is that underperforming?
If you want them to do more, say it directly.
Stop acting like a toxic, passive-aggressive partner in a relationship.
And if they don’t do more, ask them why.
Maybe they’ll tell you.
Maybe they’ll help you see that your expectations aren’t always realistic.

This isn’t just about corporate life.
As kids, if we didn’t excel in school, we weren’t just criticized in class—we were shamed at home too.
Why? Because teachers praise the top performers. Managers promote the highest achievers.

Why?

Because no one wants to put extra effort into someone who isn’t already “winning.”
But being kind to someone who isn’t an overachiever takes real effort.

Is that fair?
No!
But is it real?
Absolutely!

So, what’s the right way?

Maybe it’s holding someone’s hand.
Maybe it’s a hug.
Maybe it’s just listening.
It might not fix the outcome—but it will make them feel human again.
And you too.
Because it takes less energy to smile than it does to be angry.

You see, overachievement is personal.
Everyone has different goals. For some, landing any job is a win.
For others, just making the team is enough.
Some people don’t want to be bestselling authors or superstar actors.
They don’t!

When you tell someone what you expect from them, you take responsibility for their journey too.
You owe it to them to ask:
“What do you expect from me?”
“What should you expect from your efforts?”

As Aamir Khan said in 3 Idiots:
“Sir, main apne kamzor students ka haath kabhi nahi chhodunga.”
(I’ll never let go of my weaker students’ hands.)

Do this.
Don’t leave anyone feeling stupid, weak, or left behind.

Your kindness could ease someone’s anxiety or depression.
And maybe—just maybe—that’s how you become an overachiever too.

Because terms like “overachiever,” “underperformer,” “loser,” or “weak”—they’re all relative.
Your definition isn’t everyone else’s.
And if you can’t find a reason to be kind, then just remember:

Inclusivity matters.

We build campaigns for every kind of outlier—mental health, LGBTQ+, neurodivergence.
Why not underperformers?

No one is truly lazy or weak.
Maybe they just need help.
Maybe they’re wired differently.
Maybe they’re great at something you never even thought to ask about.

Try their way.
Ask what works for them.

You might be surprised by the results.

Be kind. Be supportive.

And if being kind means breaking the norm—then be shameless.

(It’s not a bad word.)

Yours fearlessly,
The Shameless Indian (TSI)

Posted on by Rakshit Goyal 3